Home to the famous archeological discovery of Mungo Lady and Mungo Man, the World Heritage Mungo National Park is a region rich in Aboriginal history and natural beauty.

The remains of Mungo Man, the oldest human remains discovered in Australia, and Mungo Lady, the oldest known human to have been ritually cremated, were both discovered within the park and have now both been returned to Country. They were buried on the shore of Lake Mungo, beneath the ‘Walls of China’, a series of lunettes on the South eastern edge of the lake.

The national park is part of the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Willandra Lakes Region, that incorporates seventeen dry lakes.

Remarkable human footprints walked straight out of the last ice age when they were re-discovered at Willandra Lakes in 2003 during a routine survey for archaeological sites. The footprints may have been exposed for some time before 2003, and some local Aboriginal people say they already knew they were there. Research has revealed that the well preserved footprints are about 20,000 years old, and can tell some amazing stories. They are the oldest footprints ever found in Australia and the largest set of ice age footprints in the world.

3D generated impressions of some of the footprints and the story they tell have been laid at the back of the centre. The story goes mum was walking with a child, child runs off and is chased down, men are hunting and catch food. One of the men is one legged. They are said to have been around 7ft tall. The story was followed and interpreted by experienced outback elder trackers brought in specifically to tell the story of the footprints in the ancient clay pan.

One of The ginormous footprints

Aboriginal story telling of the Dreamtime serpent, with the lake and walls of China, and the male brolgas dancing for the somewhat unimpressed female. The three colours represent the three tribes.

The facilities in the park are very impressive. Each of the stops have shade shelters, tables, water tanks and most have toilets. These shelters are at the back of the visitor centre. There are also showers available here for use by all Park visitors – we loved that!

Even some fly proof ones!

The Shearer’s Quarters for those wanting more of a glamping experience 😃

The information displays at the beginning of the Walls of China.

The boardwalk at Red Top Tank lookout

Looking back over lake mungo from big red top

The roads whilst dirt and very susceptible to rain are for the most part in pretty good condition.

Mallee landscape is predominant across the park – where it’s not there’s flat sandy saltbush or red sand dunes 😊

Reminds me of Africa 💝

Plenty of Skippy’s about so you need to be watching when you drive and walk!

Most of the time the emus run well before you get to them but sometimes across the road is their choice 🙄

Aerial view of Vigars Well facilities and surrounds.

We stayed at Main Camp about 3km from the visitors centre. The campsites vary in size and shape but most have tables and fire pit, some of the tables are covered.

Our table and fire pit

Plenty of room to spread out on our site. The gravel top and hard outback dirt was not so pleasant.

Our entire site. There are approximately 25 to 30 sites at main camp.

Thankfully we had our new (not so little) Hexpegs to help us out! Drill and peg. Most certainly wasn’t getting pegs into this by hand.

Aerial view of our site.

We weren’t the craziest. Most nights it’s was us and tents!

The toilets well camouflaged (and unexpected)

Chilled out dude in the shade at camp .. Or ready to kill, it was hard to tell.